Compare and Contrast Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill

Compare and Contrast Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill

The philosophy of Kant and Mills represent two ends of thoughts of the same moral spectrum but viewed differently . Their concepts are similar as well as differential in many respects . While both philosophers would loathe admitting the similarities contained in their works and would have highlighted how each was different from the other , the discerning reader could perhaps get a sense of the congruence as well as contrasts much more easily (Schopenhauer , 1998

Kant and Mills represent the deontological and utilitarian schools of

br thought in moral philosophy (Schopenhauer , 1998 . Kant 's philosophy is based on a deeply ingrained sense of actions which are moral when considered in conjunction with intentions with which these are undertaken . The consequences arising from these actions are secondary to Kantian morality , which is based on motive rather than the ultimate result produced or the happiness achieved . Rationality is a thus a strong basis for Kant 's arguments on morality (Kant , 1996 . This is so as a person who is rational as per Kant is also consistent in following rules . These rules are those which have been framed and accepted universally . The aim of these set of laws is to uniformly guide actions of a person . Since these are derived from universal principles , a normative value can be allotted to the same much more easily

There is one central rule as far as Kant is concerned . This is a rule which can be applied rationally to virtually all situations most impartially (Kant , 1996 . All other rules are to be applied based on a test or a process which is judged within the framework of this main rule . An action can be judged as righteous if it meets the parameters laid down in the universal rule . By this norm , theft is not acceptable in a human transaction as a rule . It is immoral , so would be depriving your fellow being food when two persons are starving and one has access to eatables . Utility is of limited relevance in this context , but following the rule is most essential

Kant values persons as individuals , as human beings in a system who are to be treated with moral dignity provided rights and protection (Kant 1996 . People thus cannot be treated as an end . The rights of each person guarantees fair treatment and thus develops a sense of respect which is to be valued . Rights will also create duties towards others as per Kant and hence form a mutually supporting dyad . The correlation of one 's rights with duties is thus another important principle of Kantian morality , for rights are not accessible without duties (Kant , 1996 ) The strict moral principles evolved by Kant denote that actions are moral not based on the consequences but the motives with which these are undertaken and in pursuance of universally established principles of law . This is a general formula to be applied to specific circumstances